Multiple filament electric lamp



y 1948- J. E. ATHANASSIADES 2,

MULTIPLE FILAMENT ELECTRIC LAMP Filed July 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 47 F G I i' 48 I i" :55

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y 1948- J. E. ATHANASSIADES 2,445,656

MULTIPLE FILAMENT ELECTRIC LAMP Filed July 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INSLI'L. ATIEIN INSULATIEIN FIG. 9.

FIG. 11.

I INVENTOR.

/H J. E. AH'IETLELS 51a :15 5

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 20, 1,948

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE FILAMENT ELECTRIC LAMP John Emmanuel Athanassiades, Teheran, Iran Application July-19, 1946,'ser a1No. cs4,s1i"

This invention relates to 'multiple filament electric lamps and their bases.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel electric lamp, enclosing a plurality of filaments and conductors thereto and therefrom whereby a number of selected degrees of intensity of illumination are possible in conjunction with a single lamp, employing direct lighting, reflective lighting or combinations thereof,

Another important object is to provide a new electric lamp having a particularly strong support for the necessarily delicate filaments and conductors within the lamp envelope.

Still another important object is to provide a novel socket for a pronged-base electric lamp, wherein the several parts of the socket are so arranged that the leads of the conductor thereto may be readily attached to the socket and an electrical connection made between the socket and lamp before the lamp is inserted into the shell of the socket.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and in which drawings: A

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of the complete assembly of parts constituting the invention, including a multiple filament lamp with base and a socket therefor.

Figure 2 is a top plan of oneportion of a multiple filament separating and supporting structure showing one filament.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the same, showing another filament.

Figure 4 is an elevationof a, novel portion of the socket structure. a

Figure 5 is a top plan thereof. Figure 6 is an elevation of the base portion of the novel lamp. 4 I

Figure 7 is a plan of thesocketinserted end of the base. l

Figure 8 is atop plan of a conductor strain eliminator employed with the novel lamp and socket. v

Figure 9 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 10 is a wiring diagram of the circuits to and from the portion, shown in Figurefi, of, the socket structure, including an electric switch,v

5 Claims. (01. 17626) ignated as F, an electric switch and conductors and leads to and from the switch as H, including a conductor J.

The electric lamp A includes the envelope 3, filament structure C, filament structure support means Dand base E.

As for the envelope B, this may be of suitable transparent or translucent material, as glass, and include an enlarged, preferably globular filament-enclosing portion l5 and a reduced neck portion l6 extending therefrom from one end -of the latter, with the other end of the neck portion It constructed and arranged to immovably receive the base E of the lamp A. A portion of the surface of the portion l 5, as the upper inner surface, is preferably provided with a coating H! of light-reflecting material (silvered).

Within the envelope B is the filament structure C which, in the example shown in Figures 1, 2. and 3, comprises four electric conductors 20, 2|, 22 and 23, two-preferably elongated, arcuate filaments or resistances 24 and 25, a plurality of filament supports 26, such as slender, elongated, dielectric bodies, for the support of filaments 24 and 25, and a spacer assembly of heat-resistant, dielectric material, for the supports 26 and the two conductors 20 and 2|, which assembly may comprise two disc-like portions 21 disposed upon opposite facesof, and preferably integral with, a horizontally-disposed, larger-diametered disclike portion 28. Some of the supports 26 are secured to and extend from the filament 24, at spaced-apart intervals thereabout, to the upper portion 21 and are suitably secured thereto, while the other of the supports 26 are secured to and extend from the filament 25, at spaced-apart intervals'thereabout, to lower portion 21 and are suitably secured thereto.

In the example shown, the conductor '20 is elec trically connected with the filament 24 at a location spaced from the ends of that filament and then extends through a suitable opening in the portion 26 and is electrically connected with one end or the filament 25, while the conductor 2i is electrically connected, after clearing the filament 24 and passing through another opening in the portion 28, with the other end of the filament 25, these ends, of course, being spaced apart. The conductor 22 is electrically connected, preferably, with the end 29 of the filament 24, while the conductor 23 is electrically connected with the other end of the filament 24 with, of course, a space between these ends. As may be seen in Figure 2, there is less length of resistance or filament material between'the end 25 of the filament 24 and the connection of the latter with the conductor 29, than there is between the connection of the conductor 23 and the connection of the conductor 20 with the filament 24. The disc-like portion 23 and the filaments 2t and 25 have their axes sub- 1 stantially coincident with the longitudinal (vertical) axis of the envelope B and, as may be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the disc-like portion 28 is of greater width than the greatest width of the filaments 24 or 25, and, in Figure 1 that the coating 18 extends downwardly and ends in substantially the horizontal planes of the filament 24.

'- The support D for the-filament structure C may comprise a rod 35,- as of glass, porcelain, or the like, connected at'its lower end to the axial center of the upper spacer 21 and connected at its upper end to a larger diametered rod 3|, which may be of glass, through which the conductors 20, 21, 22 and 23-extcnd, in spaced-apart relationship, and which is suitably secured, at its upper end, to the base E, with the conductors extending from the upper end of the rod 3|.

Positioned as they are and taken with the coating l8, the light rays from the'filament 24 are largely reflective and somewhat direct, while those from the filament .25 are generally direct. Referring mainly to Figures 6 and l, the base E is shown as a' body portion of dielectric material, having a substantially flat upper face 35, an

uppermost cylindrical peripheral exterior face 31, exterior screw threads 38 below the face 3'! and extending-outwardly of the vertical planes thereof and a lower face .39 into which extends the upper extremity of the envelope B and the upper extremity of the rod H of the support D.

Secured to the body portion 35 and extending outwardly from the face 35 are four, spacedapart, substantially paralleling prongs 40, 4|, 42 and 43, preferably with their protruding ends split, as at 44. These are of electric current-conducting material and each prong is electrically connected with a conductor, as the prong 40 with the conductor 2!], prong 4| with conductor 2i, prong 42 with conductor 22 and prong 43 with conductor 23.

Referring now to the novei socket F shown lrnorepartic'ularly in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the same includes'a shell or housing 45, preferably generally cylindrical in shape, with a vertical wall 46 preferably circular in cross section, joining an upper (end) wall 4'5, defining an opening or socket 48, since the lower end 49 of the housing 45 is open, providing a downwardly-opening mouth.

The inner surface of the wall 46 is Preferably smooth and, of course, circular and the diameter of the opening or socket #58 is preferably slightly greater than the diameter of the body portion 35,

so that. the body portion 35 may be inserted into and withdrawn from the socket 48 and the body 4 portion 35 may be rotated while within the shell or housing 45.

Extending through the end wall 'll is a conductor-accommodating perforation 56 with its axis substantially coincident with the axis of the socket 48. This perforation, of course, ex-- tends to the socket 48. The lower end of the housing 45 may be provided with interior screw threads 51 to cooperate with the screw threads 38 of the body portion 55 of the base E, so that, thereby, one means is provided to couple the base E to the socket F.

Accommodated within the housing 45 is a disc 55, preferably of dielectric material having an upper preferably substantially fia'tface 56, peripheral face 51 and lower substantially fiat face 58 adapted to contact the entire face 36 of the body portion 35. Extending through the disc 55 from the face 55 to the face 58 are a plurality of means to accommodate in snug, frictional engagement, the split end portions of the prongs 41, 42, 43 and 44. The means last mentioned includes metallic sleeves Bil adapted to contact the inserted ends of the prongs and extending through the disc 55, whereby spaced-apart perforations or passages M are provided. Electrically connected with each sleeve 60 is a means tosecure the end of a lead of a conductor thereto. These means may be conventionalset screws 62, E3, 64, and 55 with a head adapted to bear against a lead clamped thereby to a suitable terminal, as an upper portion'of a sleeve 60. l l

' Rather than provide the conventional knot generally formed by electricians at the point where conductors pass from a housing, as a plug or socket, through an opening and exteriorly thereof so that there will be no subsequent pull upon the connected leads from the conductor, I prefer to provide the novel conductor support means G shown in Figures 1, 8 and 9, which limits the movement of the conductor in one direction, when the conductor extends through the perforation or opening 50. This includes two complementary body portions "leach provided with a central semi-cylindrical section H, two radially extending arm sections 12' and a free end section '13 to each arm section '52 preferably forming an obtuse angle therewith. .The two portions [0 may be detachably connected, as by screws 74 extending througha screw-threaded perforation in each arm section 12, whereupon a central eye 15 is provided and four end sections 13, as may be seen in Figure 8. The eye 15 is of suficient diameter'to firmly grip the outer surface'of a conductor and the end sections 13 extend outwardly so that, as may be seen in Figure 1, they contact the inner face of the upper (end) wall 41' of the housing 45, so that the support means G cannot be pulled through the perforation 50 when clamped about the conductor J extending through the perforation 50.

Since the novel lamp'A is constructed and arranged to glow with selected'degrees of brightness, a switch and conductor means H is preferably provided and may include a switch of the form shown in Figures 10 and 11; Therein is shown a' snap switchhaving two buttons and 8| for actuation of each one of three knives 52, 83' and'84. The knife 821s adapted to make or break an electric circuit from the main line conductor 85 to lead 86 of a conventional sheathed multiple lead conductor which is adapted to extend to set screw 64, a sleeve 60, prong 43 inlead 81, which is operatively connected to the other main conductor. The knife 83 is adapted to make or break an electric circuit fromconductor 85 to lead 88, set screw 53, a sleve 68, prong 42, conductor 23, filament 24, conductor, 20, prong 48, a sleeve 68, set screw 65 and lead 81. The knife 84 is adapted to make or break an electric circuit from conductor 85 to lead 89, set screw 62, a sleeve 60, prong 4i, conductor 21, filament 25, conductor 20, prong 48, .a sleeve 68, set screw 65 and lead 81.

' From this, it will be seen that pressure upon the on button 8|, which actuates the knife 82 will cause minimum illumination of the lamp A since there will be flow of current through but three loops of the filament 24. Upon opening the circuit controlled by knife 82 and actuation of the knife 83 by its on button will cause a somewhat greater illumination of the lamp A, since four loops of the filament 24 will be traversed by the current. It should be noted that the two stages of illumination just described are largely by reflected light since the filament 24 is above the disc 28. Upon opening the circuits controlled by knives 82 and 83 and pressing the on button controlling the knife 84, the illumination will be greater, since there will be a fiow of current through the entire filament 25, and this will be nearly wholly direct. Obviously, if combinations of two of the several on buttons are depressed, the degree of illumination will vary, and, when all three "on buttons are depressed, there will be full illumination since the whole of both filaments will receive electric current, and the illumination will be both direct and reflected.

Of course, the multiple leads 85, 81, 88 and 89 may be enclosed in the sheathed conductor J with the leads separated by dielectric material, one from another.

In connecting the conductor J to to the socket structure F, the end of the former is inserted through the perforation 50 and when th'e leads 85 to 89 are suitably uncovered and attached to their respective binding screws of the disc 55, the novel conductor support means G is attached by extending the sections ll of the two complementary body portions about the conductor J, slightly above the disc 55, and coupling the two portions 10 together. It is desirable that the conductor length, between the top of I the disc 55 and top of the formed body portions 18 when the disc 55 is within the shell 45, be slightly more than the length of a vertical line from the top of the disc 55 to the bottom of the upper end Wall 41 of the Shell 45, whereby there will not be a strain upon that portion of the conductor J, inside the shell 45, tending to pull the leads from their connections with the sleeves 68, when the socket depends from the conductor.

After the connections are made as stated, the prongs 40 to 43 inclusive are forced into their respective sleeves and the assembly then inserted into the shell 45, employing the screw threads mentioned to detachably couple the shell to the lamp base; It has been found that, if the frictional grip of the prongs and sleeves is enough, the lamp will not separate, except upon a pull of some strength .upon the latter, even if the screw threaded connection is not employed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a relatively simple assembly of parts which will enable the electrician to quickly and readily attach the leads to the socket structure, eliminate the hazards of knotting the conductor, and permitting ready replacement of the lamp, with its novel conductor and filament structure. i

Various changes maybe made to the form of the invention herein shown and'described without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims. 7

What is claimed is:

1. In a multiple filament electric lamp,*anenvelope and a filament structure within said envelope, including a disc-like portion, an arcuate filament dis-posed atadjacent one face of said portion and the other filament disposed at adjacent the other face of said portion, means to secure said filaments to said portion, a plurality of conductors within said envelope, including a separate conductor secured to the end of each filament, one of said conductors secured to one of said filaments being also secured directly to the other filament at a location spaced from the end of said other filament and being extended through said disc-like portion.

2. In a multiple filament electric lamp, an envelope provided with a coating of light rays refleeting material at its upper end, and a filament structure within said envelope, including a disclike portion, an arcuate filament disposed at adjacent one face of said portion and the other filament disposed at adjacent the other face of said portion, means to secure said filaments to said portion, with one of said filaments facing said coating and with thehorizontal planes of said filament extending to substantially the end of said coating, a plurality of conductors Within said envelope, including a separate conductor secured to the end of each filament, one of said conductors secured to one of said filaments being also secured directly to the other filament at a location spaced from the end of said other filament.

3. In a multiple filament electric lamp, an envelope, a pair of spaced-apart filament loops, a filament loop-support structure within said envelope including a support portion having an outer periphery and opposite faces, the greatest diameter of either loop being less than the greatest diameter of said support portion, and means to position one loop adjacent one of said faces and the other p adjacent the other of said faces, with said loops wholly inwardly of the plane of said periphery including supports converging from said loops toward said support portion.

4. In a multiple filament electric lamp, an envelope, a pair of filament loops, a filament loop support structure within said envelope, including a major disc pontion of dielectric material, a pair of minor disc portions of lesser diameter than that of said major disc portion, one disposed upon one face of said major disc portion and the other disposed upon the opposite face thereof, with the axes of said disc portions concentric, and means to position one of said loops adjacent one of said faces and to position the other of said loops adjacent the other of said faces, including supports secured to said loops and converging toward said major disc portion and secured to said minor disc portions.

5. In a multiple filament electric lamp, an envelope, a pair of filament loops, a filament loo-p support structure Within said envelope including a major disc portion of dielectric material, a pair of minor disc portions of lesser diameter than that of said major disc portion, one disposed upon one face of said major portion and the other disposed upon the opposite face thereof, with the axes of said disc portions concentric, means to position one of said loops adjacent one of said faces and to position theother of said'loops adjacent the other of said faces, including supports secured to said loops and converging toward said major disc portion and secured to said minor disc 1 portions, a, conductor within said. envelope elec REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this pa tentz Number 10 Number 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bernstein 1- June 19, 1885 Hamilton Aug. 25, 1925 Glade Aug. 11, 1931 Adler June 15, 1937 Smith Jan. 13,1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 21, 1932 Germany Mar. 9, 1932 Germany Feb. 22, 1936 

